Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 30 min4:51 am – 9:22 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 57 min8:04 am – 4:02 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,583 residentsin the Cowes West, Gurnard & Northwood census areaMedian age 49.63,742 households79% of homes owner-occupied50% owned outright5% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting4.6% unemployment rate57% of adults are economically active, 3,856 in work, 32% retiredMain industries: health and social work 19%, retail and wholesale 12%, education 10%Getting to work: 24% work from home, 57% go by car, 3% take public transport, 14% walk or cycle77% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages34% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 8% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 14°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 3°C830 mm of rain a year, 27 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November19 days of air frost, 8 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesNorthwood Parkpark · 1.3 mi · 7 haThe Greenpark · 1.1 miPrince's Greenpark · 1.5 miCowes Golf Clubgolf course · 1.0 mi · 16 haMoorgreen Road Allotmentsallotments · 1.0 miJubilee Recreation Groundplaying field · 1.4 mi · 2 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes14 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 14 Jul 201150 mi away, English ChannelMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 6 Dec 202527 mi away, English ChannelSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 6.0 · PM2.5 5.6 · PM10 8.9 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband95% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband99% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)3,788 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation61 m200 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 2 to 68 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalSt Marys Hospital2.4 miGP surgeryCowes Medical Centre2 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyAllied Pharmacy Cowes4 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistCowes Special Care Dental Clinicunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi7 schools5 primary, 1 secondary, 1 independentPrimaryNorthwood Primary Schoolages 5-11, 178 pupilsunder a milePrimaryLanesend Primary Schoolages 4-11, 346 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryCowes Enterprise College, An Ormiston Academyages 11-19, 1,156 pupils1.3 miCollegeThe Isle of Wight College2.8 miUniversityUniversity of Portsmouth10.1 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportSouthampton Airport SOU14 miMajor airportLondon Gatwick Airport LGW57 miRailway stationRyde Pier Head6.7 miBus stationBus StationNewport3.3 miFerryWest Cowes Floating Bridge1.3 miBus stops48 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the PO31 postcode district.
